PlayPhone Buys Pitch Entertainment

PlayPhone Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based mobile media and entertainment company, has acquired Pitch Entertainment Group, a UK-based provider of mobile entertainment content. No financial terms were disclosed. PlayPhone has raised around $30 million in VC funding from Scale Venture Partners, Cardinal Venture Partners and Menlo Ventures

PRESS RELEASE

In a strategic move to become the undisputed leader in direct-to-consumer mobile entertainment, PlayPhone, Inc. (www.playphone.com), which operates the largest network of mobile content destinations in North America, announced today that it has joined forces with Pitch Entertainment Group, the global mobile entertainment company. This strategic procurement fortifies PlayPhone's existing business and leverages Pitch Entertainment's leadership in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia and Africa for the worldwide delivery of PlayPhone powered mobile entertainment.

“Pitch Entertainment Group is an innovative and market-leading global mobile entertainment company,” said Ron Czerny, founder and chief executive officer at PlayPhone. “Having their expertise in building direct-to-consumer services for international markets establishes PlayPhone as a true leader in creating and marketing compelling, localized mobile entertainment services across the globe.”

Pitch Entertainment Group is a global mobile entertainment company, headquartered in London, providing cutting-edge mobile phone content and mobile community solutions. It is led by chief executive officer Martin Bowley who, amongst many other roles, is the chairman of the British Television Advertising Awards, chairman of the British Television Craft Awards and served as the chief executive of Carlton Media managing and leading the television and cinema sales business.

“We are extremely delighted to become part of the PlayPhone family,” adds Bowley. “This merger takes us to the next level by allowing us to offer truly global and digital business to consumer initiatives with worthy client partners.”

This combination allows PlayPhone to offer expanded distribution for its top-tier content partners, which, in North America, currently include SONY BMG, EMI Group, Cartoon Network, Sega, Bandai, Disney, Glu Mobile, Konami, Vivendi Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, ABC Television, Platinum Studios and many more. It will also allow PlayPhone to extend its network of mobile content destinations to Europe and Asia.

PlayPhone gives consumers access to a new and exclusive media catalog spanning audio, video and gaming content from leading music labels and artists, game publishers and media companies. In addition to operating its consumer facing mobile destination at PlayPhone.com, it also powers mobile content destinations for entertainment and retail brands including Wal-Mart, ABC Television, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Sega, Real Networks, iPlay and many more. The international expansion of PlayPhone's partner destinations has already started with the launch of Cartoon Network in Brazil, with additional partners in more territories to follow.

About Pitch Entertainment Group

Pitch Entertainment Group (www.pitchentertainment.com) is an innovative and market-leading global mobile entertainment company. Pitch currently operates in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Ukraine, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, South Africa, US, Italy, France, Lithuania and the Netherlands. All territories are controlled from the Pitch Entertainment Group head office in London. Pitch Entertainment Group were placed number 6 in The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 for 2007.

About PlayPhone, Inc.

PlayPhone (www.playphone.com) is a leading mobile media company providing cutting edge personalization and entertainment content to mobile consumers anytime, anywhere. PlayPhone founded the direct-to-consumer mobile media distribution standard in 2003 and continues to establish new means for delivering wireless entertainment. The company currently operates its own leading mobile entertainment destination at PlayPhone.com and powers subscription-based mobile portals for the world's top entertainment and retail brands including Wal-Mart, ABC Television, Cartoon Network, Sega, Real Networks and more. PlayPhone is based in San Jose, Calif. and is funded by top venture firms Menlo Ventures, Cardinal Venture Capital and Scale Venture Partners.